Y/N sat in front of the vanity, her hands resting on her lap as she stared at her reflection. The morning sun streamed through the large windows, filling the room with a soft, warm glow. Today was a big day—not just for Yuna, but for her too.

The engagement ceremony was just a few hours away, and while Yuna was the one getting engaged, somehow, Y/N felt more nervous than her sister.

Lisa, Yuna, and their other friends—Mia, Sana, and Jisoo—were all gathered in the room, busy with their own preparations. However, Y/N could feel their eyes on her. She knew that any second now, one of them was going to say something—

"Y/N, why do you look like you just saw a ghost?" Lisa smirked, crossing her arms.

Y/N blinked. "What? I do not!"

Sana chuckled. "Oh, honey, you do. Look at you! You’re all stiff, and your face looks pale!"

Jisoo grinned. "Awww, is our Y/N nervous?"

Y/N rolled her eyes. "Nervous? Pfft. Why would I be nervous? Yuna is the one getting engaged, not me."

Yuna, who was fixing her earrings, turned around with a mischievous smile. "Oh really? Then why are you fidgeting like crazy?"

Y/N immediately placed her hands in her lap, sitting up straight. "I am not fidgeting!"

Lisa gasped dramatically. "Oh no, guys! Our little Y/N is getting shy!"

Y/N glared at them. "I swear, if you all don't shut up—"

"Maybe she's nervous about her wedding night," Mia suddenly spoke up.

Y/N choked on air. "EXCUSE ME?!"

The entire room exploded with laughter.

Lisa wiggled her eyebrows. "Oh, come on, Y/N. You know what happens after marriage… just imagine, you and Taehyung, alone in a room, and then—"

"LISA, STOP!" Y/N screamed, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at her.

Yuna smirked. "Oh, but Lisa’s right. You did kiss Taehyung’s cheek last night, didn’t you?"

Y/N’s eyes widened. "YUNA!"

Sana gasped dramatically. "WAIT, WHAT?! YOU KISSED HIM?"

Lisa clapped her hands together. "Oh, this just keeps getting better!"

Mia grinned. "Details, Y/N. We need details!"

Y/N groaned, covering her face with her hands. "It was just a kiss on the cheek! It wasn't even a big deal!"

Jisoo giggled. "Says the one blushing like crazy right now."

Y/N peeked through her fingers and saw them all staring at her with teasing grins. She wanted to disappear.

Yuna sat beside her and nudged her shoulder. "Come on, just admit it. You’re at least a little interested in Taehyung, right?"

Y/N huffed. "No, I hate him."

Lisa smirked. "Hate him so much that you can't stop thinking about him?"

Y/N glared. "I do not think about him!"

Mia grinned. "Mmm, are you sure about that? Because last night, you seemed pretty happy after that kiss."

Y/N groaned. "Can we please talk about something else?"

Sana pouted. "Aww, but this is so much fun!"

Lisa grinned. "Alright, alright. We’ll stop… for now."

Y/N sighed in relief. "Thank you—"

"AFTER we talk about your first night!" Lisa added, laughing.

Y/N threw a pillow at her again. "LISA, I SWEAR—!"

The room filled with laughter once again as Y/N’s frustration grew. Her friends loved to tease her, and she knew this wasn’t going to end anytime soon.

But deep down, as much as she hated to admit it… maybe they were right. Maybe—just maybe—she was starting to feel something for Taehyung.

And that thought scared her more than anything.

Taehyung stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of his suit with his usual indifferent expression. The room was quiet except for the sound of fabric rustling as he fixed his cuffs. He didn’t particularly care about Yuna’s engagement, but his presence was expected, so he had no choice but to attend.

Just as he was about to grab his watch, the door burst open.

"Tae-hyung-ah!"

Jungkook’s voice was full of mischief as he entered, followed by Jimin and Hoseok, all grinning like they were up to something. Taehyung already knew this wasn’t going to be good.

"What?" he asked flatly, giving them a cold stare.

Jungkook smirked. "Oh, nothing. Just came to check on our soon-to-be-married friend."

Taehyung scoffed. "I'm not getting married today."

Jimin chuckled. "No, but it’s getting closer, isn’t it?"

Hoseok nodded. "Yeah, and from what I heard, things are already getting pretty interesting between you and Y/N."

Taehyung froze for a fraction of a second before continuing to adjust his sleeves. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Jungkook grinned. "Oh? So you didn’t get a kiss on the cheek from her last night?"

Taehyung’s hand halted. His jaw tightened slightly, but he quickly composed himself. "It was nothing."

Jimin gasped dramatically. "NOTHING? Oh, come on, Tae. A kiss is never just ‘nothing’."

Hoseok wiggled his eyebrows. "Especially when it makes someone all flustered."

Jungkook smirked. "Oh, look at his ears! They're getting red!"

Taehyung glared at Jungkook through the mirror. "Shut up."

Jimin leaned against the dresser. "So, tell us… how does it feel to have your fiancée all over you?"

Taehyung sighed. "She wasn’t ‘all over me.’ She was just being annoying, as usual."

Jungkook grinned. "And yet, you didn’t push her away."

Hoseok gasped. "Wait… you liked it, didn’t you?"

Taehyung rolled his eyes. "You guys are ridiculous."

Jimin smirked. "Oh, come on, we know you. If you really didn’t care, you would’ve pushed her away. But you let her kiss you. And you didn’t even say anything!"

Jungkook crossed his arms. "That’s because he secretly likes her."

Taehyung turned to face them, his cold expression unwavering. "I don’t like her. This marriage is just business. That’s it."

Hoseok smirked. "Right, right. Keep telling yourself that."

Jimin chuckled. "Yeah, let’s see how long you can keep up this cold act."

Jungkook tilted his head. "I give him two weeks before he starts falling for her."

Hoseok nodded. "I say one."

Jimin grinned. "I say he’s already falling."

Taehyung let out a long sigh. "I’m leaving."

Jungkook laughed. "Yeah, yeah. Run away all you want, but you can’t escape your feelings, hyung."

Taehyung didn’t respond. Instead, he grabbed his watch, put it on, and walked past them—his cold mask still perfectly in place.

But as he stepped out of the room, his mind betrayed him with a single thought:

Why was he still thinking about that stupid kiss?

The grand hall was adorned with beautiful traditional decorations, golden drapes flowing elegantly from the ceiling, and fairy lights twinkling like stars. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as Yuna’s engagement ceremony was in full swing. Relatives and friends filled the space, dressed in vibrant traditional attire, chatting, laughing, and exchanging warm greetings.

Y/N stood beside Lisa, adjusting the bangles on her wrist while stealing occasional glances at Taehyung, who, as usual, carried his cold expression. He was standing near Jungkook, looking completely uninterested in the ceremony.

Lisa nudged Y/N and smirked. “Still checking him out, huh?”

Y/N scoffed. “I wasn’t checking him out! I was just… making sure he doesn’t run away.”

Lisa laughed. “Sure, sure. I totally believe you.”

Before Y/N could respond, an elderly woman from their family approached them with a teasing grin.

“Oh, Y/N dear, you and Taehyung look so good together. When are you giving us the good news?”

Y/N almost choked on her drink. “W-What?”

Lisa burst out laughing, while Taehyung, who had unfortunately overheard the conversation, stiffened.

The old woman chuckled knowingly. “Ah, newlyweds these days get so shy. But don’t worry, dear, we understand. Just make sure to give us a grandchild soon, okay?”

Y/N’s face turned beet red. “G-Grandchild?! Aunty, we aren’t even married yet!”

The woman waved her hand dismissively. “So what? You two are already engaged, right? The wedding is just a formality.”

Taehyung, clearly uncomfortable, tried to change the topic. “I think the ceremony is about to start. We should take our seats.”

But the teasing didn’t stop there. Another uncle joined in. “Aiyoo, Taehyung-ah, you should take some marriage tips from me. A happy wife means a happy life, you know?”

Jungkook grinned and leaned closer to Taehyung. “Yeah, hyung. You better start practicing how to please your wife.”

Y/N gasped and smacked Jungkook’s arm. “YA! Don’t say things like that!”

Jimin, who had been eavesdropping, smirked. “Oh, don’t be so innocent, Y/N. We all know what happens after marriage.”

Y/N covered her face in embarrassment, while Taehyung clenched his jaw, clearly regretting coming to this event.

Meanwhile, the elder women of the family continued gossiping. “Ah, young couples these days. I bet they’re already sneaking glances at each other.”

Lisa couldn’t hold back her laughter. “More like Y/N is the one sneaking glances at Taehyung.”

Y/N glared at Lisa. “I swear I will throw my sandal at you.”

The uncle from earlier patted Taehyung’s shoulder. “You should hold Y/N’s hand, son. She’ll be yours officially soon anyway.”

Jungkook wiggled his eyebrows. “Or maybe they already hold hands in private.”

Taehyung, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke. “I need a drink.” He walked away, leaving everyone laughing at his misery.

Y/N groaned and buried her face in her hands. “I hate my life.”

Lisa smirked. “Oh, don’t worry. This is just the beginning. Imagine what they’ll say on your wedding night.”

Y/N’s soul left her body.

The engagement ceremony was set in a grand traditional Korean-style hall, adorned with silk drapes, delicate lanterns, and an elegant folding screen decorated with calligraphy. The scent of incense filled the air as both families gathered, dressed in exquisite hanbok, symbolizing the unity of the two households.

Y/N adjusted her embroidered jeogori (jacket) nervously while Lisa and Yuna fussed over her norigae (ornamental pendant) hanging from her skirt.

Lisa smirked. “You look stunning. Taehyung’s going to faint.”

Y/N scoffed. “If he faints, I’ll be the first to throw water on him.”

Yuna laughed. “Or maybe he’ll fall even more in love with you.”

Y/N rolled her eyes, but deep down, a strange nervousness settled in her stomach.

Meanwhile, Taehyung stood at the other end of the hall, stiff and composed in his navy-blue hanbok. Jungkook nudged him.

“You look like you’re being dragged to your own funeral.”

Taehyung sighed. “Feels like one.”

Jimin chuckled. “Cheer up, man. At least Y/N is cute.”

Before Taehyung could retort, the ceremony began.

The Engagement Rituals

First, the napchae (formal betrothal exchange) took place. Y/N’s family presented their honseo—a traditional letter confirming the engagement—while Taehyung’s family responded with pye-baek, a ritual offering of gifts like fine silk, jujubes, and chestnuts, symbolizing prosperity and fertility.

Y/N’s mother beamed as she accepted the gifts. “I hope you two have a long and happy life together.”

Y/N and Taehyung exchanged awkward glances.

Then came the hapgeunrye—the symbolic act of drinking together. A small wooden table was placed before them, with a porcelain cup of makgeolli (rice wine). Traditionally, the couple would take turns drinking, signifying their union.

Y/N hesitated, eyes flickering to Taehyung. He simply picked up the cup, took a sip, and wordlessly handed it to her.

Jungkook leaned toward Jimin. “This is the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen.”

Jimin smirked. “Totally. They should be in a historical drama.”

Suppressing a sigh, Y/N took a sip from the same cup, earning approving nods from the elders.

The Family Teasing Begins

As soon as the formalities ended, the real chaos started.

One of the elder aunts clapped her hands. “Now that the engagement is official, you two can start planning for babies.”

Y/N choked on air. Taehyung visibly tensed.

Another uncle laughed. “Ah, newlyweds always act shy. But once the wedding night comes—”

Jungkook dramatically covered his ears. “NOPE! I refuse to hear this!”

Lisa grinned. “Oh, I’m sure Y/N and Taehyung will give us plenty of nephews and nieces.”

Y/N glared at Lisa. “I will personally make sure you don’t survive this night.”

Taehyung, trying to escape, turned to his father. “Can we leave now?”

His father smirked. “Why? Want some alone time with your fiancée?”

Jimin burst out laughing. “Oh, he totally does.”

Taehyung closed his eyes, regretting every life decision that led him to this moment.

Meanwhile, Y/N sighed. This was just the engagement. If this was how the family reacted now, she didn’t even want to imagine the actual wedding night.

Word count - 2125